Visible community support is needed to help save psych center

OGDENSBURG  Visible community support is the next step in the plan to save the inpatient care units at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

City Manager John M. Pinkerton said the Psychiatric Center Task Force is organizing a campaign of lawn signs and T-shirts that will make it clear to state officials that the community is opposed to their plan.

The state Office of Mental Health announced two weeks ago that it plans to close inpatient services at the center and move adult care to Syracuse and child care to Utica.

The signs and T-shirts will be available at City Hall on Friday, and Mr. Pinkerton said the goal is to get the first several hundred signs planted on properties along Ford Street for the Seaway Festival Parade on Saturday.

Were asking residents along Ford Street to consider having them put in their yards, he said.

Charles W. Kelly, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Task Force chairman, said having the signs out during the parade will go a long way toward getting public support for keeping mental health services local.

We hope it will get more people involved, Mr. Kelly said.

The signs will read Help Save SLPC, Mr. Kelly said.

The parade Saturday begins at 11 a.m. and runs down Ford Street, with awards being given out at the Library Park gazebo at its conclusion.

The T-shirts will be available Friday as well with a suggested $10 donation to help the task force keep its promotional efforts afloat.

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